St. Mary's in the Mountains
The Cradle of Catholicism in Western Nevada
Known as the "Bonanza Church" because of the rich silver mines of the last century, this Mother Church of the Comstock Lode traces it history to 1858 when the Rev. Joseph Gallagher (1821-87) offered the first mass in Nevada. His brother, the Rev. Hugh P. Gallagher (1815-82), opened the first church in Virginia City in 1860. Destroyed by the winds of the following winter, this church was replaced in 1864 when the Rev. Patrick Manogue (1831-95) erected a new church a block away from here. The present church, originally built in 1868, was seriously damaged in the Great Fire of 1875 but rebuilt in 1876. Today St. Mary's stands here as a treasure of the old west and is now recognized as a National Catholic Historic Site.
Erected 1991 by the International Order of Alhambra
Marker is at the intersection of E Street and Taylor Street, on the right when traveling north on E Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
